Patent · US Active

Random number generation system with ring oscillators

US8583711B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
14References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 2009
Grant dateNov 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F7/588
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A random number generation system comprising one or more ring oscillators configured to generate entropy due to accumulated phase drift. A random number generator can include a ring oscillator configured to switch between a first state in which a signal of the ring oscillator oscillates between logic levels, and a second state in which the signal at least partially settles to one of the logic levels. The random number generator can also include a counter configured to measure a count of pulses of the signal and a whitener mechanism configured to receive the signal from the ring oscillator, latch a logic level of the signal from the ring oscillator, latch the count of pulses from the counter, and generate a random number based on the logic level and the count of pulses. Corresponding methods may also be performed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.